Took mine out at 5 or 6. I remember going squirrel hunting with my grandfather when I couldn't have been more than 4. He died when I was 5.

Did anyone who said she was too young explain what they think age has to do with it? The younger they understand that critters are out there for us to use in a responsible way, being good stewards of the earth, the better off she'll be. Too many people think that a McDonalds hamburger is grown on a tree, or their leather purse was picked off a leather bush, or the castor or skunk essence in their perfume came from a skunk essence plant. They refuse to acknowledge that animals are used on a daily basis by everyone on earth in one way or another.

I here this alot "I cant believe you are taking youre five year old out duck hunting!"Well I tell them all that he has been in the blind since he was two and I cant keep him out of it!He helped gut his first deer at age three and has been hooked on it ever since. We just started a trap line this year and he has taken to it like a fish in water!My eleven year old is the same way not as wild as the younger one but still loves the outdoors with dad just the same.Every kid is different and diferent things strike thier fancy,my oldest loves 4-H cows and we do more of that together in the summer.Long story short its never to young to start a father child relationship just get them away from the X-Box or T.V as much as posible and get them out in the fresh air!Just my 2cents!

Thanks everyone. The only other that worries me is when I have to dispatch an animal. I dont think I can let her watch that just yet. So far I have just used bodygrips so the jobs done when we get there. I will post pictures the next time we get something.

well you know i think the younger the better because i'm only 14 years old but my dad took me out when i was real young hunting with him and it got me hooked on it and starting young makes the kid learn easier. so i say go for it.

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trapper4lifeIT'S A LIFESTYLE. DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED.

Z that is totally up to your discretion. While Jenna was in the basket with me had to help some muskrats in a stop loss. She is 3 and handled it well, heck I hand them to her and she puts them in the basket. This is me what you do is you.

Started taking my kids with me when they were two and three, they really love going, personally thats all that matters to me. As far as dispatching the animal, they ask a few questions but if you explain it right it will be ok. Sometimes they will surprise you, when we carried the couple of coons up to the truck the landowner ask my son if he got them, he looked up and said,"Yup, but I let dad shoot em cause I'm too little for that gun" I still laugh when I think of that.

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I Ain't Never Been Lost, Might Confused for 2 or 3 Months, But I Ain't Never Been Lost ( Brian Keith on Mountainmen)

This is an issue that entirely depends on the child, and the parent. You are the best judge of what they are ready and willing to do when it comes to hunting/Fishing/trapping. Some kids deal with it well,and some simply are not ready for it at that age. My sons have been trapping with me for 3 years. One is now 9 and the other is 13. And they are HOOKED!!!.

_________________________TrapperMans FIRST Haiku Master:Misted Over DawnCherry Red On the HillsideA Moment Stands Still

i take my 3 yr old daughter with me to set and check the traps that are close to home...she carries the bait and lure...i carry the rest...she loves it ...i think if the kids are interested we should take them as young as we can, that way they can form their own opinions before they get hit with the negatives of trapping....

she loves it...

i was a little concerned about dispatching in front of her, but she caught a possum thursday in a set she baited and lured and she was excited..i explained to her that we had to dispatch it in order to be a full blown trapper...and she could either watch or turn her head it was up to her and that either way was ok..she chose to watch and didnt have a problem with it..she carried it back to the house and then when her grandparents came over she showed them what she trapped..now shes tellin everyone that she goes trappin with her mom....

im real proud of her and am glad she enjoys it as much as i do..

i do think kids are all different though and 3 might be too young for some kids to understand..but my daughter has grown up with me hunting and fishing and she loves the outdoors as nuch as anybody..

you know your child and if you feel you didnt do anything wrong then thats all that matters, because as a parent i know you wouldnt put your child in a situation they werent ready for..good Luck to ya'll and i hope you continue to have fun and that your daughter continues to love the outdoors..you got a good partner in the making..congratulations

_________________________IF IDIOTS GREW ON TREES THIS PLACE WOULD BE AN ORCHARD !

My daughter is 2 years old. She goes with me every day, and loves every minute of it. I get to spend time with my daughter, she gets to learn about the outdoors, that's better than cartoons any day of the week.

I didnt't trap til my kids were older but they all started to go hunting with me when they were about 4 or 5. My daycare lady gave me heck one day when I picked them up. They had watched Bambi for the first time and when it got to the part where the hunters were chasing bambis mom my kids were yelling, Shoot her! Shoot her! We still laugh about that one to this day.